From Tiny Seeds to Tall Spires of Cherry and Cream

A friendly guide to sowing, growing, cutting and enjoying Snapdragon 'Cherry Twist' in Hungary.

Come Into the Garden With Me…

Today, we're growing snapdragons - one of those flowers almost everyone recognises, even if they cannot immediately remember the name.

The flowers sit tightly along upright stems, and if you gently squeeze the sides of an individual bloom it opens like a tiny mouth. That playful flower shape is where the English name 'snapdragon' comes from.

Our plant is 'Cherry Twist', a particularly beautiful bicolour snapdragon. Dark cherry buds open into flowers brushed with cherry pink and cream, with warm yellow markings in the throat. From a distance the flower spikes look elegant; up close, every bloom seems slightly different.

This is also a very useful flower for Hungary because snapdragons are happiest when temperatures are moderate. They can cope with cool spring weather better than many summer annuals, often pause a little in extreme July heat, and then begin looking wonderful again as late summer and early autumn become gentler.

In this book we will start with those dust-like seeds, learn why they should not be buried deeply, raise sturdy seedlings, plant them into the border, cut them for the vase, help them through Hungarian summer heat and encourage a second flush of flowers.

Ready? Let's grow something tall, cheerful and just a little theatrical.

1. Meet the Snapdragon

Snapdragons belong to the genus Antirrhinum. The garden snapdragon is Antirrhinum majus, a Mediterranean species that has been cultivated for centuries and is now one of the classic flowers of cottage gardens and cutting gardens.

Why the strange flower shape?

Each flower has two lips that close together around the centre. Strong insects such as bumblebees can push their way inside to reach pollen and nectar, which makes an open snapdragon spike wonderfully entertaining to watch.

Annual or perennial?

Botanically, snapdragons can behave as short-lived perennials in mild climates. In most Hungarian gardens we treat them as annuals or short-lived bedding plants because winter conditions and summer stress make their long-term survival unpredictable.

How tall is Cherry Twist?

'Cherry Twist' is a medium-tall snapdragon, generally around 55-65 cm in garden conditions. That gives it enough height for the middle of a border and enough stem length to make a very useful cut flower.

2. The Snapdragon We Grow With You

At Holland Kerteszet, the variety we are growing together is Snapdragon 'Cherry Twist' 

• Botanical name: Antirrhinum majus

• Variety: 'Cherry Twist'

• Seed packet: 0.05 g

• Brand: Buzzy

• Flower colours: cherry pink/red, creamy white and yellow markings

• Height: approximately 55-65 cm

• Life cycle in Hungary: usually grown as an annual

• Best position: full sun to light partial shade

• Best uses: borders, cottage gardens, pots and cut flowers

• Wildlife value: attractive to bees, especially bumblebees

3. The Right Place

Sun first

Snapdragons flower best with plenty of light. Choose full sun where possible. In the hottest parts of Hungary, a little light afternoon shade can help the plants stay fresher through high summer without sacrificing too many flowers.

Good garden soil

They prefer fertile but well-drained soil. Unlike rock-garden plants, snapdragons appreciate some nutrition and regular moisture, but roots should never sit permanently in water.

Air movement matters

Tall flower spikes and dense leaves benefit from airflow. Avoid squeezing plants tightly between vigorous neighbours, especially in humid weather.

4. Sowing Those Tiny Seeds

Snapdragon seed is extremely small. The biggest beginner mistake is burying it too deeply.

When to sow

For an early display, sow indoors from late winter into early spring, roughly February to March. You can also sow later for plants that flower into late summer and autumn.

Surface sow

• Fill a tray or module with fine seed compost.

• Water the compost before sowing.

• Scatter the seed thinly over the surface.

• Press gently so the seed makes contact with the compost.

• Do not bury deeply; light helps germination.

• Keep the surface evenly moist using a fine spray or bottom watering.

• Provide bright light as soon as seedlings appear.

Cooler is often better

Snapdragons do not need tropical heat to germinate. Moderate indoor temperatures are enough. Once seedlings appear, strong light and slightly cooler growing conditions help produce compact plants rather than long, soft stems.

5. Raising Strong Seedlings

Give them light

Snapdragon seedlings can become leggy very quickly if they are warm and dim. Put them in the brightest practical position and turn trays regularly if light comes mainly from one direction.

Prick out carefully

When seedlings have developed true leaves and are large enough to handle, move them into individual cells or small pots. Hold by a leaf rather than pinching the stem.

Pinching for branching

Once plants are established and have several pairs of leaves, pinching the growing tip can encourage branching and produce more flowering stems. If you want one very tall central cut-flower stem, you can leave some plants unpinched instead.

Hardening off

Before planting out, expose the young plants gradually to outdoor sun, wind and cooler nights over about a week. Snapdragons are cool tolerant, but greenhouse-raised seedlings still need this transition.

6. Planting Out in Hungary

Snapdragons can go outside earlier than tender flowers such as petunias or celosia, but avoid planting tiny soft seedlings just before a severe frost.

When?

Depending on your region and the spring, late March through April can be possible for hardened plants in sheltered gardens, while April into early May is the simpler beginner window.

Spacing

Allow about 20-25 cm between plants. This gives them enough room to branch while keeping the display full.

Planting

Set each plant at the same depth it was growing in the pot, firm gently and water well. Tall plants in windy positions may benefit from an unobtrusive support ring or twiggy stems placed early.

7. Keeping Snapdragons Flowering

Water deeply

Keep the root zone evenly moist while plants establish. Once rooted, water deeply during dry weather rather than giving a tiny splash every day.

Feed modestly

A light balanced feed can help in poor soil or containers. Too much nitrogen creates leafy growth and softer stems, so more fertiliser does not automatically mean more flowers.

Deadhead regularly

Cut old spikes back before they spend all their energy making seed. New flowering stems can then develop from lower side shoots.

The midsummer pause

During prolonged heat, flowering may slow. Keep plants healthy, remove tired stems and water during drought. As temperatures moderate, they often respond with a fresh flush.

8. Cutting Cherry Twist for the Vase

Snapdragons are classic cut flowers because one stem gives both height and colour to an arrangement.

When to cut

Harvest when roughly the lower third of the florets are open and the upper buds are still closed. The remaining buds can continue opening indoors.

Cut in the cool

Early morning is ideal. Use clean snips, place stems into water quickly and remove leaves that would sit below the waterline.

What to pair with it

'Cherry Twist' looks beautiful with white cosmos, dark scabiosa, soft phlox, ammi, ornamental grasses and silvery foliage. The vertical flower spike gives structure to looser, rounder flowers.

9. Bees, Pests and Common Problems

Bumblebees at work

Bumblebees are strong enough to force open the hinged flowers. Watching them disappear into a snapdragon bloom is one of the best small garden performances of summer.

Aphids

Tender tips can attract aphids. Small colonies can often be washed away with water or left for ladybirds and hoverfly larvae to control.

Rust and mildew

Snapdragons can suffer from fungal problems when foliage remains crowded and damp. Good spacing, watering at soil level and removing badly affected material all help.

Floppy stems

Too much shade, excessive feeding or strong wind are common causes. Give plants more light, feed less heavily and add discreet support if necessary.

10. Growing Snapdragons in Pots

'Cherry Twist' can be grown in a container, but medium-tall snapdragons need more root room than small bedding varieties.

Choose a stable pot

Use a deep container with drainage holes. A wide, heavy pot is useful because tall flower spikes can catch the wind.

Do not overcrowd

Three well-spaced plants in a generous container usually look better than six plants competing for water and nutrients.

Container care

Pots dry much faster than garden soil during Hungarian summer heat, so check moisture frequently. Feed lightly during active flowering and remove old flower spikes promptly.

11. Saving Seed - and What to Expect

If you want seed, stop deadheading a few late flower spikes and allow the seed capsules to mature and dry on the plant.

How to collect

• Choose a healthy plant you particularly like.

• Leave several late flower spikes untouched.

• Wait until the seed capsules become dry and brown.

• Cut the stems into a paper bag on a dry day.

• Let them dry completely before shaking out the tiny seed.

• Store labelled seed in a cool, dry place.

Will it come true?

Open-pollinated snapdragons can cross with other snapdragons growing nearby. Seedlings may resemble the parent closely, or they may surprise you with slightly different colours. If exact 'Cherry Twist' colouring matters, fresh named seed is the safest choice.

12. A Simple Snapdragon Calendar for Hungary

• JANUARY-FEBRUARY Prepare trays and begin an early indoor sowing if you have excellent light.

• MARCH Continue sowing. Prick out early seedlings and begin hardening the strongest plants late in the month when weather allows.

• APRIL Plant hardened seedlings outside in suitable conditions. Direct-sow a small later batch if you wish.

• MAY Plants establish and begin branching. Add support before stems become tall if your garden is windy.

• JUNE Main flowering begins. Cut stems and deadhead regularly.

• JULY Water during drought and expect flowering to slow in extreme heat.

• AUGUST Trim tired stems and keep plants healthy. Cooler nights can trigger fresh growth.

• SEPTEMBER Enjoy a strong second flush. This can be one of the best snapdragon months in Hungary.

• OCTOBER Continue cutting while weather remains mild. Leave selected seed pods to mature.

• NOVEMBER Collect dry seed and clear plants once frost has finished them.

• DECEMBER Store seed dry and plan next year's cool-season flower border.

13. Your Snapdragon Cheat Sheet

• Botanical name: Antirrhinum majus.

• Variety: 'Cherry Twist'.

• Height: approximately 55-65 cm.

• Position: full sun to light partial shade.

• Soil: fertile, moisture-retentive but well drained.

• Sow: late winter to early spring indoors for an early display.

• Seed depth: surface sow or cover only extremely lightly.

• Plant out: spring after hardening off.

• Spacing: around 20-25 cm.

• Best uses: borders, cottage gardens and cutting.

• Flowering trick: deadhead and cut regularly.

• Summer strategy: keep healthy through heat and enjoy the autumn comeback.

One Last Walk Around the Garden

We began with a packet of seed so fine it barely looked large enough to become anything at all. Then came the tiny seedlings, the first true leaves, the moment they were strong enough to go outside and finally those upright flower spikes beginning to colour.

'Cherry Twist' is the kind of flower that rewards both distance and curiosity. From across the border it gives height and rhythm. Close up, you notice the cream petals, cherry markings, yellow throat and the bumblebee forcing its way into a flower that seems closed to everyone else.

And perhaps the nicest surprise comes after midsummer. Just when you think the snapdragons have had their moment, the nights cool, the plants freshen and another set of flower spikes begins to rise.

Until then, enjoy the flowers. And whenever you're ready to grow something new…

Come into the garden with me.

We're growing Snapdragon 'Cherry Twist'.